MAC teams step up, beat big boys

Scores explode, receivers roll and defenses hold in Week 4

Fumbles lost by Wisconsin’s Montee Ball after losing one on the Badgers’ first drive against UTEP. Ball, who left the game with a head injury after just nine carries, had not lost a fumble in his three-plus seasons and first 656 career attempts.

2

Number of Oregon State receivers with at least 150 yards through the air in an upset of then-No. 19 UCLA. Brandin Cooks led the way with 175 yards on six catches while Markus Wheaton added 150 yards with his nine receptions.

2.33

Points allowed per game by No. 1 Mount Union this year, the top scoring defense in Division III. The Purple Raiders have now pitched back-to-back shutouts, outscoring Muskingum and Marietta by a combined 109-0. They haven’t allowed a point in 133 minutes and 50 seconds since Franklin, which scored only seven points in the opener, reached the end zone.

3

Number of ways Nebraska scored as it had a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams. RB Rex Burkhead returned from injury and scored on a 61-yard rush on his third carry, Ciate Evans added an interception return for a score and Ameer Abdullah took a punt return back 81 yards for a TD marking the first time since 2009 against Colorado that the Huskers scored in all three phases.

4

Number of wins by Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams against BCS-automatic qualifying teams on Saturday. Central Michigan booted a field goal in the final seconds to beat Iowa; Northern Illinois dumped Kansas 30-23; Western Michigan toppled Connecticut 30-24 and Ball State also won against the Big East, beating South Florida 31-27.

7

Number of touchdowns by Nevada’s Stefphon Jefferson in a 69-24 win at Hawaii. Jefferson punched in six scores on the ground while rushing for 170 yards on 31 carries and added to his scoring spree with a 54-yard TD reception in the first quarter. The seven TDs are an FBS record against another FBS team.

9

Points scored in the final minute as Central Michigan rallied to beat Iowa on its home field. Place-kicker David Harman sealed the upset as he booted a career-long 47-yarder with three seconds remaining, handing the Chippewas a 32-31 road win. CMU scored with 47 seconds left and missed the two-point conversion to tie. It needed two on-side kicks – the first, recovered by Iowa was negated by a Hawkeye penalty – before getting the ball back and starting the winning drive.

20

Consecutive passes completed by South Carolina QB Connor Shaw in a 31-10 pasting of Missouri. The banged up signal-caller looked healthy and happy as he completed his last 20 attempts to finish 20 of 21 for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

21

Receptions by WR Erik Lora of Eastern Illinois as the Panthers defeated Murray State 50-49 in overtime. The catches were a school and Ohio Valley Conference record and Lora also had a hand in the two-point conversion that won the game in the extra session, but instead of being on the receiving end, he threw for the conversion.

24

Number of consecutive road losses New Mexico had before snapping the streak with a 27-14 win against rival New Mexico State. The skid was the longest in FBS and started in 2008. The last team the Lobos beat? You guessed it, NMSU.

26

Consecutive meetings that Florida has topped Kentucky after the Gators trounced the Wildcats 38-0 on Saturday. The shutout – which was Florida’s first in conference play since 2001 – extended the Gators’ FBS-leading winning streak in a series.

55

Completions by QB Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion’s prolific passer who set the Division I (FBS and FCS) record with 730 yards in a wild 64-61 victory against New Hampshire. His 55 of 79 day was also a school record in completions and attempts, and his completions were two short of the FCS record.

90

Points scored by Widener in a 90-0 shellacking of Wilkes. It was the most points scored by a Division III team since Rockford put up 105 points against Trinity Bible in 2003.

96

Number of times Truman and Central Missouri have met after the Mules earned a 38-17 victory in a nationally televised Thursday night game last week. It marked the final conference game between the two as Truman leaves for the Great Lakes Valley Conference next season.

134

Number of points Alabama scored between opponent scores. The Tide defense had pitched consecutive shutouts and nearly made it three in a row as it held Florida Atlantic to just seven points, which came late in the fourth quarter. Bama has not had three consecutive shutouts since 1966.

253

Yards rushing by Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell, a career high. The bruiser battled through the Eastern Michigan defense and helped MSU to a 428-183 advantage in total offense. It also kept the time of possession in the Spartans’ favor, which it needed after trailing early to the upset-minded Eagles, who have never beaten a ranked opponent.

303

Yards receiving by Arkansas’ Colbi Hamilton, setting a school and SEC record for receiving yards in a contest. He caught 10 passes and had almost triple the amount of receiving yards as the other five Hogs to catch passes combined in Arkansas’ 35-26 loss to Rutgers.

395

The most rushing yards allowed in a game by Grand Valley State, as the No. 4 Lakers allowed Ohio Dominican to reach the total behind freshman Brandon Schoen’s 298 yards on the ground. Despite the lack of rushing defense, the Lakers still won 46-41.

600

Number of all-time football wins by Hillsdale after defeating Notre Dame College 63-14. Ironically, the Chargers also picked up win No. 1 against Notre Dame, but it was the University of, you know, the one in South Bend with Touchdown Jesus. Yup, the Chargers beat the Fighting Irish 14-12 in their first collegiate game … in 1892.

751

Yards gained by Nicholls State while ending a 12-game losing streak with a 73-17 win against Evangel (NAIA), which was also the last team NSU beat a year ago. The Colonels scored early and often, and scored late too, finishing the game on a 35-0 run in the second half.